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WAKE UP with BWW 7/14/2015 - NPH Judges AMERICA'S GOT TALENT and More!

By: Jul. 14, 2015
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Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Neil Patrick Harris guest judges on AMERICA'S GOT TALENT tonight!

Next up in our series of stars introducing BWW's morning feature is Robert Petkoff (portrait by Walter McBride), currently starring in THE 39 STEPS off-Broadway! Among his Broadway credits are ALL THE WAY, ANYTHING GOES, RAGTIME, SPAMALOT, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and more.

Robert Petkoff wants you to WAKE UP with BWW!
Photo by Walter McBride

TODAY'S TOP ITEMS:

- Drag legend Charles Busch brings THAT GIRL/THAT BOY to 54 Below this evening...
- New musical FIND THE GOLDEN BIRD gets its world premiere at the Thespis Festival tonight.
- Tracee Beazer and more star in SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, beginning tonight at TUTS!
- And set your DVR! Neil Patrick Harris guest judges on AMERICA'S GOT TALENT tonight.

Andy Karl and a friend at BROADWAY BARKS!

NEWS YOU MISSED YESTERDAY:

- SHARKNADO: THE MUSICAL could be swimming to the Great White Way... Check out our dream casting!
- We got an adorable look (right) at this year's BROADWAY BARKS, plus a peek in the studio with IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU, and footage of HAND TO GOD phone-charging legend Nick Silvestri's apology!
- Brandy, Laura Michelle Kelly and more are set for this week's Broadway in Bryant Park.
- NBC is holding an L.A. open call for 'Dorothy' in THE WIZ LIVE!
- THE 39 STEPS has extended into fall off-Broadway.
- And Broadway will dim its lights tomorrow in memory of Roger Rees...

Broadway Weather Forecast: Clear this morning with scattered thunderstorms throughout the afternoon and evening. High of 81. Why not buy an adorable new umbrella? It's obviously monsoon season!

Quote of the Day: In honor of the Great White's potential Broadway debut, here's a scene from the original SHARKNADO movie...

"Baz Hogan: Storm's dying down.

Nova Clarke: How can you tell?

Baz Hogan: Not as many sharks flying around."

Courtesy IMDb

What we're watching: Christiane Noll, Hugh Panaro and the Des Moines Symphony performing from THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY with Jason Robert Brown!

Video of the Day: Check out astounding footage in rehearsal for the original 1959 production of GYPSY!

GYPSY - 1959. Pro-shot photo-call reel as rehearsals were starting. It seems that all of the creative geniuses were on hand except for David Merrick and maybe Leland Hayward, who I wouldn't recognize.. Merman, Robbins, Klugman, Sondheim, Styne (at keyboard), Church, Laurents . . . Jacqueline Mayro, Gerald Freedman, various performers and stage managers and even Gypsy Rose Lee. Klugman looks great, and the rapport between he and Merman is evident.For a soundtrack - audio working-tapes of Ethel Merman and pianist, including many lyrics that were deleted or changed during rehearsals and tryouts. At the finish is a smattering of amateur color film of the original production out of town, including a glimpse of the "Christmas" number that was cut before the NY opening.This is all just film snippets, apparently in no particular order. I'm sorry the camera fidelity isn't better - as you see, the original source is spotty to begin with. A good friend in the legal profession has assured me that this film is now in the 'public domain'.Some parts of the audio were apparently added separately and volume levels may have to be adjusted while you listen.

Posted by Stephen B. Crowley on Wednesday, July 8, 2015
And a Happy Birthday shout-out to Jane Lynch, who turns 55 today!
Lynch made her Broadway debut in Annie in 2012. She has also appeared off-Broadway in Love, Loss, and What I Wore and The Real Live Brady Bunch and the Real Live Game Show. The actress is well known for her award-winning portrayal of 'Coach Sue Sylvester' on Fox's musical dramedy GLEE. Among her other TV credits are Two and a Half Men, Party Down, The L Word and Criminal Minds. She has starred on the big screen in Best in Show, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Role Models, Julie & Julia, and more. Lynch currently hosts the NBC game show Hollywood Game Night, for which she won an Emmy last year.
Jane Lynch in the final season of GLEE.
Photo courtesy FOX.

See you bright and early tomorrow, BroadwayWorld!







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